by: Rodrigo S. Victoria
NAVAL, Biliran – The People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network Incorporated (PDRRN) and the provincial government of Biliran signed an agreement which officially starts the collaborative efforts of extending humanitarian assistance to reduce the sufferings of the most vulnerable and affected households in the province by Typhoon Yolanda.
The humanitarian assistance undertaking is a multi-stakeholders project in partnership with the Church World Service (CWS)-Asia Pacific and the funding support through AmeriCares of USA; Development and Peace of Canada; Mennonites Central Committee of USA and the Peace Boat of Japan.
The ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the PDRRN and the provincial government of Biliran was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at the provincial capitol.
Signing the MOA were Biliran Vice-Governor Eriberto D. Tubis, Jr. who represented Governor Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. and Esteban Masagca, executive director representing the PDRRN.
Also present during the ceremonial signing were Emmeline U. Managbanag of CWS-Asia Pacific, Flordeliza G. Trani, Biliran provincial social welfare and development officer (PSWDO) od Biliran, Caibiran Mayor Eulalio Maderazo, Cabucgayan Mayor Gemma G. Adobo, representatives from the international organizations involved in the humanitarian assistance and the barangay captains of the identified recipient barangays of the humanitarian assistance in the province.
The agreement stipulates for the provision of non-food items such as starter kits and home return kits; shelter materials targeting the vulnerable and most affected families and communities from the municipalities of Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran and Naval.
Meanwhile, the executive director of the PDRRN informed that the humanitarian assistance will focus more on the provision of shelter assistance that will cost the household-beneficiary some P4,000 such as sheets of galvanized iron, umbrella nails, nails and sealants including home starter kits such as kitchen wares and utensils to more than 1,000 most affected families in the 15 hardly-hit barangays in the four identified towns in the province.
It was learned that part of the criteria set for every household to qualify as beneficiary of the humanitarian assistance are the following: house is totally damaged based on the actual validation of the barangay shelter committee composed of barangay health workers, barangay council and representatives from the donor organizations; has a person with disability (PWD) as member of the household ; has a senior citizen as member of the household ; has no regular source of income and has three children up in the family. (PIA 8 Biliran)